“The world is seeing the light” – Fans claim Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or was ‘a robbery’ as ‘rigged’, ‘robbery’ and ‘robbed’ trend on X
Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or at three different clubs.
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Lionel Messi (Source: via Sky Sports)
An 8th Ballon d’Or for Lionel Messi at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France has marked a historic moment for the player who lifted the 2022 FIFA World Cup just 10 months prior. Some football fans online however, share a different sentiment as many claim ‘robbery’ for Erling Haaland’s incredible season which saw the player score 50+ goals in the season and achieve the historic treble.
Prior to the event, rumours had arisen – which later on proved to be true – that Lionel Messi was going to be announced as the winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or award. This caused a lot of debate online on whether Messi truly deserved the award over Erling Haaland who had shattered every goal-scoring record in the Premier League in 2022/23. Fans online claimed “biggest robbery in football” after the rumours were spreading online and when Italian sports journalist, Fabrizio Romano confirmed its validity, many went on to mock the award as a ‘Popularity contest.’
Lionel Messi ended the 2022/23 season with 32 goals and 25 assists with PSG and Inter Miami. He also was awarded ‘Player of the match’ in five games out of the seven in Argentina’s World Cup run, including the finals against France. Many former players and current players backed the Argentine to lift the award this year based on these accolades. Former Real Madrid player, Eden Hazard stated before the event:
It wouldn’t be logical to not give the Ballon d’Or to the best player in history in the year that he won the World Cup.
As Lionel Messi went on stage to lift his 8th and possible ‘final’ Ballon d’Or, the Argentine received a standing ovation from the crowd in Paris, France.
Twitter fans react to Lionel Messi’s 8th Ballon d’Or
Regarded by many as the ‘Greatest Of All Time’, Lionel Messi achieved his 8th Ballon d’Or earlier this week. However, his claim to the award has led many football fans online to deem the award a ‘PR contest’ that holds ‘no importance’ any longer due to Erling Haaland’s Treble-winning season being given second place.
Here are some of the reactions:
When Lionel Messi went on stage to receive his Ballon d’Or, he acknowledged Erling Haaland’s incredible season by saying:
Erling deserved it very much too…this award could have been yours today too. I’m sure in the next years you will win it.
Messi also gave his opinion on who could win the Ballon d’Or in the future stating:
Haaland and Mbappe will win the Ballon d’Or one day.
But for now, the Ballon d’Or goes to Miami with Lionel Messi.
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Gerard Crispin
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